Redbirds Head Down I-74 to Face Braves Thursday | https://images.sidearmdev.com/
Redbirds Head Down I-74 to Face Braves Thursday | https://images.sidearmdev.com/
After seeing a successful two-game road trip last weekend, Illinois State women's basketball (9-5, 3-1 MVC) is back on the road once more as they head down I-74 to face the Bradley Braves Thursday. Tip-off from Renaissance Coliseum is set for 7:00 p.m. CT as the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Greg Halbleib provides the radio call Thursday as his call can be found on the Varsity Network or WJBC 102.1 FM & 1230 AM.
GAME INFORMATION
at Bradley (Game Notes (PDF))When: Thursday, Jan. 12Tip-off: 7 p.m. CTLocation: Peoria, Ill.Facility: Renaissance ColiseumWatch: ESPN+Live Stats: SideArm StatsListen: WJBC 1230 AM /102.1 FM
LAST TIME OUT
Led by a career-high performance from Kate Bullman, the Illinois State women's basketball program (9-5, 3-1 MVC) handed a conference opponent their first MVC loss of the season as they defeated Southern Illinois (6-7, 3-1 MVC) Saturday by a final of 59-56 (full recap).
Saturday's win marks the first win for Illinois State on the road against the Salukis since Feb. 5, 2021. The Redbirds came into Saturday with two straight road losses from the Banterra Center.After a slow start thanks in part to the Salukis defense, Paige Robinson stepped up in a massive way, leading all Saturday scorers with 15 points. The Bethany native also added six rebounds and five assists to her stat line Saturday. The other Redbirds in double figures would be DeAnna Wilson with 12 and Maya Wong with 11.
However, the story of the afternoon was Grayslake native Kate Bullman, who grabbed a new career-high 14 rebounds including nine defensive rebounds.
Four Salukis ended the afternoon in double figures, led by Ashley Jones' 12 points to go along with her three assists. Southern Illinois also saw Quierra Love finish with 11 points to go along with 10 points from both Shemera Williams and Promise Taylor, respectively.
There would be 11 ties and eight lead changes in Saturday's contest.
SCOUTING THE BRAVES
Bradley is currently on a seven-game losing streak, including dropping their first four MVC contests of 2022-23. The Braves last won on Dec. 6 against Eastern Illinois on the road. This season, Bradley is 2-4 at home with wins over McKendree (Nov. 3) and Missouri Baptist (Nov. 22).
The Braves dropped their first two home MVC contests when UNI and Drake paid Peoria a visit on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1 to kickstart the MVC campaign.
Leading the way for Bradley, in her first season, is Kate Popovec-Goss. Prior to Bradley, Popovec-Goss spent time as the former Northwestern Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. A former student-athlete at Pittsburgh and Northwestern, Popovec quickly rose through the Wildcats coaching staff after returning to her alma mater as an assistant coach in 2017.
In the spring of 2018, Popovec-Goss was named Northwestern's Recruiting Coordinator and Defensive Coordinator, as she would be named Associate Head Coach in August 2021. In the last five seasons with Popovec-Goss on staff, Northwestern sported a 92-60 (.605) overall record, including a 48-38 (.558) Big Ten Conference mark.
After finishing as runner-up in the 2019 WNIT, the Wildcats clinched their first Big Ten regular season title in 30 years in 2020 with a Senior Day win against Illinois. Northwestern would follow that up during the 2020-21 season with their first NCAA Tournament victory in 28 years, downing UCF in the first round. As part of the Wildcats staff, on the court, Popovec-Goss primarily worked with the Wildcats forwards and centers.
SERIES HISTORY WITH BRADLEY
Thursday will be the 83rd all-time meeting for the I-74 rivalry. Heading into Thursday, Illinois State holds the 53-29 series lead, including winning three of the last five meetings in Peoria. Under Coach Gillespie, the Redbirds are 6-5 overall against the Braves.
In the last meeting on March 5, 2022, DeAnna Wilson put up 22 points and 17 rebounds in the regular season finale, leading ISU to a 62-53 victory over the Braves at Renaissance Coliseum. Juliunn Redmond finished with 17 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds with Kate Bullman adding six points and eight boards.
Chloe Van Zeeland had a career-high seven points in the win, knocking down a big three-pointer from the corner to hold off a Bradley rally late in the fourth quarter. The Braves were led by Chloe Rice and Sierra Morrow, who each scored 11 points in the loss.
OFF TO A CONSISTENT START
Illinois State is one of two NCAA Division I WBB programs to have the same starting five in every game in 2022-23 (Columbia).
GOING WAY BACK
Illinois State has a long and storied basketball history, as the Redbirds have faced off against six different MVC opponents over 80 times each.
The Redbirds and Thursday's opponent – Bradley – have faced off 82 times previously in each program's history. This sits as the sixth longest series history in ISU history, as Thursday's meeting will tie for fifth longest alongside Missouri State (83 times).
HOW THE VALLEY STACKS UP
Six teams enter this weekend tied for first at the top of the MVC women's basketball standings. Belmont, Drake, Illinois State, Missouri State, UNI, and Southern Illinois all sit 3-1 after the first two weeks of league play.
The Valley is the only league nationally with a six-way tie for first at this point of the season. This week's schedule features travel partner games on Wednesday and Thursday with one of the two season single plays occurring over the weekend.
WELCOME TO THE 1K CLUB
With her three-pointer at 3:08 in the third quarter versus Drake (12/30/22), graduate student Mary Crompton officially joined ISU's 1,000-point club. This made the Iowa City native the 30th member and only the second player (Juliunn Redmond) to reach the milestone under head coach Kristen Gillespie.
As her career continues, Crompton currently sits in 29th all-time for ISU scoring leaders.
| NAME | PTS | YEAR |
| 25. Tami Baalke | 1,105 | 1989-93 |
| 26. Shala Jackson | 1,099 | 2007-11 |
| 27. Tammy Turner | 1,077 | 1982-86 |
| 28. Valarie Trame | 1,077 | 1994-98 |
| 29. Mary Crompton | 1,028+ | 2018-present |
| 30. Octavia Crump | 1,000 | 2012-16 |
As part of Illinois State's hard-fought 59-56 win in Carbondale on January 7, junior Kate Bullman would set a new career-high in rebounds.
The Grayslake native grabbed 14 rebounds (9 defensive boards) against the Salukis to surpass her previous career high of 13, set versus Valparaiso on January 13, 2022.
ROAD WARRIORS
With wins over Missouri State and Southern Illinois last weekend, it marked the first time since Feb. 2019 that the Redbirds won back-to-back games in Springfield and Carbondale.
In fact, the two wins last weekend saw the Lady Bears and Salukis drop consecutive games against an MVC opponent for the first time in that span as well.
TIME AWAY FROM HOME
Since Kristen Gillespie took over the program, Illinois State has seen four straight road Missouri Valley Conference games once, which came to start the revised 2020-21 MVC season (at UNI and Indiana State).
Prior to last weekend's games and the two upcoming, in a "normal" MVC regular season, the longest road stretch for the Redbirds have been three games (2017-18; 2018-19; 2019-20; 2021-22).
SHOOTING IS KEY
When dissecting the win-loss total for Illinois State in 2022-23, the way the Redbirds shoot has been a valid indicator for the overall result.
In their nine wins in 2022-23, Illinois State is shooting 42.9% from the field and 38.4% from three-point range. Meanwhile, in their five losses, the shooting drops to 34.4% from the field and 29.7% from three-point range.
CASTING A WIDE NET (RANKING) FOR THE VALLEY
The NCAA NET Report (Jan. 9) has four Valley teams that rank in the top-100, including six of the 12 sitting in the top-125. Drake leads the way at no. 48 with UNI (68), Belmont (93), and Illinois State (97) rounding out the schools in the top-100. Murray State (107) and Missouri State (122) rank in the top 125.
Only seven other leagues have six or more teams in the top 125 of the NET (ACC, American, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, MVC, Pac-12, and SEC).
| TEAM | NET |
| Drake | 48 |
| UNI | 68 |
| Belmont | 93 |
| Illinois State | 97 |
| Murray State | 107 |
| Missouri State | 122 |
| UIC | 186 |
| Southern Illinois | 214 |
| Indiana State | 219 |
| Evansville | 240 |
| Valparaiso | 293 |
| Bradley | 333 |
Head coach Kristen Gillespie achieved her 200th career win last Thursday, with a 67-63 win on the road over Missouri State. The Redbird head coach also moved her ISU win total to 96 overall, taking wins over the Lady Bears and Southern Illinois.
Gillespie is seeking to become the first ISU head coach to eclipse 100 career wins as a Redbird since current Missouri head coach Robin Pingeton, who finished her ISU career with a mark of 144-81 over seven seasons.
Graduate guard Mary Crompton, through 14 games in 2022-23, has now started 96 games as a Redbird. As the season rolls on, Crompton sits only four starts away from becoming the ninth Redbird WBB athlete to have 100 career starts. The last Redbird to eclipse 100 career starts is former Redbird star, and now head coach at UIC, Ashleen Bracey.
RISING IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Junior forward Kate Bullman is slowly but surely moving her way up the all-time ranks in ISU history for career blocks. As the season is now in sole MVC focus, Bullman currently sits with 92 career blocks, good for sixth all-time.
The Grayslake native now sits three blocks from tying fifth place, which is held by the newest announced WBB Hall of Famer for ISU, Cathy Boswell who finished her illustrious career with 95 blocks.
MAKING THEMSELVES KNOWN
As they have done all season, the Redbirds see a trio of athletes making their mark across the top-100 in various statistical categories, in both DI WBB and the MVC (as of 1/11/23).
| CATEGORY | VALUE | NCAA | MVC |
| Minutes (Paige) | 35.4 | 42nd | 1st |
| PPG (Paige) | 19.3 | 26th | 2nd |
| 3PT FG% (Mary) | .451 | t-22nd | 1st |
| 3PT/Game (Mary) | 2.6 | t-44th | 2nd |
| Free Throw Pct (Maya) | .977 | 3rd | 1st |
Thanks to their efforts thus far, ISU currently ranks top-100 in five categories (as of 1/11/23) across Division I WBB while being top five in the MVC for each category, respectively.
| CATEGORY | VALUE | NCAA | MVC |
| 3PT FG% | .359 | 29th | 1st |
| Blocks Per Game | 4.3 | t-51st | 2nd |
| Turnover Margin | 3.36 | 67th | 1st |
| Free Throw Pct | .743 | 78th | 2nd |
| 3PT FG/Game | 7.2 | t-78th | 5th |
After a successful 2-0 road weekend, Illinois State comes in as the highest ranked MVC team in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major top-25. The Redbirds (#16) are joined in the rankings by Drake (#17) and UNI (#20).
Other notable schools ranked, in regard to the Redbirds, this week is 2022-23 opponent Green Bay (#12). Meanwhile, fellow MVC member Belmont is receiving votes.
49 YEARS IN THE MAKING
As part of a record-breaking weekend in Vegas for the Redbirds, the Illinois State women's basketball program would match their best program start in 49 years after taking down the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters on Nov. 26.
With the 70-53 victory, the Redbirds would sit at 5-0 to start the 2022-23 season. This matched the best program start in 49 years, when ISU would start the 1973-74 season with the same record.
BROKEN RECORDS
As part of the program's annual Education Day (huge shoutout to ISU Marketing's Danny Bugg and Lauren Henderson) on Dec. 6, 2022, the Redbirds saw a new home attendance record be set as 6,363 school children, staff, admin., and longtime Redbird fans piled into CEFCU to watch ISU take on UMSL.
Prior to Dec. 6, the previous record stood at 6,075 which was set during the 2010 WNIT when California paid Normal a visit.
WELCOME TO THE HALL OF FAME
Illinois State women's basketball legend Cathy Boswell was selected as one of five to be inducted as the 24th Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Class this past Sunday morning. The members for the Class of 2023 are Cathy Boswell (Veteran Player), Donna Lopiano (Contributor), Lisa Mattingly (Official), Carolyn Peck (Coach), and Lindsey Whalen (Player).
Boswell (1979-83) was a two-time WBCA Kodak All-American and two-time Wade Trophy finalist during her time at ISU, finishing her collegiate career with 2,005 points and 1,054 rebounds. She led the Redbirds to 90 wins, an NCAA Tournament berth in 1983, a 15th-place finish in the AIAW National Tournament in 1981 and two WNIT bids (1980 and 1982). Boswell was a member of the 1984 women's Olympic gold medalist USA basketball team and competed internationally for 14 years, earning seven team most valuable player awards, one league MVP title, a player of the year award and five league championships.
The Class of 2023 will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, receiving their coveted Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Trophy and Baron Championship Induction Ring on April 29th, 2023, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
On August 20, 2022, Illinois State women's basketball lost one of their own as former standout Simone Goods lost a courageous battle with cancer. Goods finished her time as a Redbird with 2019 All-MVC First Team honors as well as finishing in the program's top-25 for field goals made in a season (190), rebounds in a season (238), career free-throws (227), career blocks (51) and blocks in a season (33).
This season, ISU players and staff will don an "SG" patch on their jerseys and gameday attire to honor the life and legacy of Simone Goods as ISU is dedicating the 2022-23 season in her honor.
NEW FACES ALL AROUND
Throughout the 2022-23 season, seven of Illinois State's opponents (or possible opponents) will be under the direction of a first-year head coach. Four of the seven new faces will come during MVC play as Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Bradley, and UIC all made coaching hires during the offseason.
NEW NAME, SAME ARENA
Illinois State University and CEFCU have come to terms on a naming rights and sponsorship agreement valued at approximately $3.1 million over 10 years. The agreement, which will support the funding for ongoing and ever-evolving costs associated with the student-athlete experience, was initiated by LEARFIELD's Redbird Sports Properties, the University's athletics multimedia rightsholder. The former Redbird Arena will be known as CEFCU Arena – Home of the Redbirds, with the University's Board of Trustees approving the arena name change at its October 14 meeting. The CEFCU Arena naming rights and sponsorship agreement will continue to support funding of the Redbird Student-Athlete experience. Particularly in these ever-evolving times, funding is vital to maintaining and expanding upon the current NCAA, Division I student-athlete experience.
REDBIRDS SIGN FOUR TO NLI's
Earlier this season as part of National Signing Day, the Illinois State women's basketball program announced the signings of four high-level talent as part of 2022 National Signing Day. The 2023 recruiting class includes Brooke Coffey (St. Charles, Mo.), Shannon Dowell (O'Fallon, Ill.), Molly Lenz (Eden Prairie, Minn.), and Savannah McGowan (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Coffey, a 6-1 guard from St. Charles Mo., has led the Incarnate Word to 68 straight wins, including multiple state titles, as the program has now captured a total of 12 MO Class 6 Championships. Finally, Coffey will join former Redbirds Kayel Newland and Cameron Call as well as current ISU athlete, DeAnna Wilson, as athletes for ISU women's basketball under Kristen Gillespie to hail from the state of Missouri.
Dowell, a 5-10 guard from O'Fallon, Ill., comes from O'Fallon Township High where she was named First Team Southwestern All-Conference in 2021-22 along with Third Team All State for the IBCA following last year. Dowell has had the chance to learn from five-time IBCA Co-Coach of the Year in District 19 4A (Coach Knolhoff) and amassed 1,000 career points in her junior year as a Panther.
Lenz, a 5-8 guard from Eden Prairie, Minn., was awarded 2021-22 Lake Conference All-Conference and Minnesota Girls Basketball Association All-State Honorable Mention honors. As a junior, Lenz was selected as one of Eden Prairie's three Varsity captains. Lenz will join former Redbird Viria Livingston (from Minneapolis) and fellow signee Savannah McGowan as athletes to come from Minnesota and play for ISU under head coach Gillespie.
McGowan, a 6-2 forward from Minneapolis, Minn., amassed 1,000 career points during her junior season for the Armstrong High Falcons, gaining her All-State honorable mention honors. McGowans joins former Redbird Viria Livingston (also from Minneapolis) as athletes to come from Minnesota and play for ISU under head coach Gillespie.
Original source can be found here
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